Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Dan Tehan has called for more Australian businesses and ex-service organisations to step up and support the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program.
Minister Tehan said 23 organisations had registered their interest in participating in the Industry Advisory Committee and eight ex-service organisations had registered to participate in the program since its launch in November. A number of companies have also expressed interest in offering employment opportunities to veterans.
The Industry Advisory Committee will develop information for business on how to embed veteran employment strategies into their recruitment processes. The Committee will also play a role in promoting the skills former ADF personnel can offer employers.
“The key aim of the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program is to raise awareness in the private sector about the unique skills and experience our former ADF personnel can bring to business. We want to encourage businesses large and small to take a closer look at our veterans and realise their skills can help a business grow and succeed,” Tehan said.
“We have seen an excellent response from Australian businesses and ex-service organisations wanting to help our veterans find meaningful jobs that utilise their unique skills and I encourage more business leaders to register their interest in the program.
“The men and women who serve in Australia’s armed forces are the best in the world and during their service many acquire formal trade or professional qualifications that are recognised in the civilian workforce.
“They also gain unique skills such as problem-solving, leadership, team work and the ability to work in high-pressure environments and live by core ADF values such as honesty, honour, initiative, integrity, respect and loyalty.
“Developing strategies to recognise and transfer the talents of our former ADF personnel to the private sector will be good for business and good for our veterans, so we need even more people providing valuable leadership in this area.”
Minister Tehan said the Government had created an employment information page for veterans on its jobactive website and added a ‘defence force experience desirable’ flag for vacancies, as announced at the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program launch.
A chairperson for the Industry Advisory Committee will be announced in February with a first meeting scheduled for late March 2017.
The inaugural Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Annual Awards to recognise the success of Australian businesses employing veterans will be held later this year.
Any business or ex-service organisation that would like to register for the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program should email veteransemployment@dva.gov.au.